For eight years, the artist-run gallery, Transition, has been at the forefront of the East London art scene, staging exhibitions and producing exceptional publications (including Garageland and Arty). With the ill wind of spending cuts threatening to curtail the gallery’s progress, Transition have garnered the support of many leading artists and will be launching a not-to-be-missed art auction on this website on 15 November. Viewing will be in the form of an exhibition at Transition from 25-27 November, culminating in a live auction on the evening of Saturday 27 November. Bidding will be possible in advance online or by telephone or at the live event. There will also be an ARTY DIP where £10 will secure an original drawing or print many of which have featured in Arty.

Much of the work has been produced specially for ART BLITZ and this will be a rare chance to purchase art by influential contemporary artists whilst supporting the work of one of London’s most important artist-run spaces.

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

An exhibition of new work by 200 artists including Tracey Emin, Maggi Hambling, Swoon and Humphrey Ocean, responding to the widespread murders of women in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico

This ambitious project was conceived by artist Tamsyn Challenger in response to the brutal murder and rape of more than 400 women over a decade in the US border town of Ciudad Juárez and the region of Chihuahua in Mexico. 200 artists have each painted one of the murdered women, confronting us with and safeguarding in our memory the dead and disappeared. The exhibition is curated by Ellen Mara De Wachter, a curator and writer based in London.Challenger says:“This project began in 2005 when I was commissioned to make a feature for BBC Radio 4’s Woman's Hour. I travelled to Mexico and met with some of the families and was struck by their need to hand me postcards that had been generated as another aid to finding their loved ones. These images were black, white and pink and poorly produced but they started the concept in my mind and on the long flight home I had a half formed idea for what has become the project 400 Women. The concept relies heavily on a large-scale collaboration and, for me, each participating artist represents one of the murdered women, in some way invoking her, so that she can challenge humanity. Each image produced will stand as a statement against gender violence.”Explanations for the murders, which continue to this day, range from serial killers to organ fielding, the use of women as prizes for drug cartels and domestic violence. Most sinister of all is the possibility of so-called sexual violence tourism. The continued disappearance of women in Mexico and elsewhere in Latin America evidences a culture’s disregard for the rights of women. Despite media coverage of the issue, the murder of 186 Women in 2009 and the disappearance of many more attest to the fact that little is changing. The killers continue to enjoy impunity in the region, which has had a knock-on effect throughout the country and the region. Amnesty International has reported that in Guatemala more than 2,200 women have been murdered since 2001.The Mexican authorities have seriously mishandled each investigation into these murders and in August 2006 the Mexican federal government dropped its investigations into the murders, concluding that no federal laws had been violated.The majority of the murdered women were extremely poor. Challenger has obtained over 100 images through Amnesty International's Mexican team, the group Nuestra Hijas de regreso a casa, and the Casa Amiga Rape Crisis centre in Ciudad Juárez. For some women no image is extant. In these cases, the artist involved will use the woman’s name as they wish within the piece.Notes:

· Each image will be on a uniformly sized canvas of 14” by 10” (portrait) echoing the “retablo” (which means ‘behind the altar’), the iconic imagery of the Catholic Church that remains such a strong force and power in Mexico.· Challenger’s 2006 Woman’s Hour feature on the killings can be heard at http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/womanshour/03/2006_26_fri.shtml· Information about the project’s development and images of works as they are painted can be previewed at http://400women.tumblr.com/· Tamsyn Challenger trained at Winchester School of Art and KIAD. Her work has been exhibited in the Truman Brewery and Candid Arts in London. She has worked as a collaborative artist with the Magdalena Festival in Barcelona and with Triangle theatre. Tamsyn's first solo show 'The Tamsynettes' was at Transition Gallery in Bethnal Green in March 2010. She has also produced documentary work for the BBC, 'My Male Muse' receiving Radio 4's 'Pick of the Year' accolade.· Ellen Mara De Wachter is a curator and writer based in London. Her main occupation is as the exhibitions curator at Zabludowicz Collection in Camden, where she has worked with artists on major commissions and exhibitions for the Zabludowicz Collection’s space at 176 Prince of Wales Road, including Matt Stokes, Graham Hudson, Mark Titchner and Toby Ziegler.· Lise Bjorne Linnert is a multimedia artist based in Norway. Desconocida Unknown Ukjent uses embroidery to highlight the struggle to address the abuse, trafficking and murder of women. The project was initiated in 2006 in response to the situation in Ciudad Juárez and consists of workshops during which participants embroider the names of the murdered young women onto labels. So far over 2,200 people have participated in the project, embroidering more than 4,000 nametags. The project was awarded the Luleaa Summer Biennial Award in 2007.· Shoreditch Town Hall Basement is a unique venue in the heart of artistic Shoreditch. Built in 1866 and now run by the Shoreditch Trust, the building has been used for exhibitions of work by internationally renowned artists and community projects alike. www.shoreditchtownhall.org.uk

Sold Out brings together a group of internationally renowned and emerging artists to raise funds for Elastic Residence and The Palestinian Children’s Relief Fund. Opening night performances include Martin Creed and His Band, whose music has been described as willful, wild and pushing the extremes of noise and silence. Among the internationally renowned artists showing, Beat Streuli provides an image from his Brussels series, characteristic of his street portraiture that captures the extraordinariness of the everyday, urban experience. From the well-known UK contributors, Daisy Delaney donates work that specifically responds to Sold Out, and subverts familiar images to deliver unexpected messages. The event closes with a performance by Gina Birch & Hayley Newman of the Gluts, concerned with the effects of over-consumption, capitalism and climate change.

Work will be for sale by auction on the basis of sealed bids that can be placed at any point during the exhibition until the closing event on July 18th. On this last day, all bids will be opened and the ‘winners’ informed.

Monies raised will go towards the ongoing development of the Elastic Residence programme, an artist run space aimed at giving artists direct access to exhibition opportunities. 20% of funds raised will be donated toThe Palestinian Children’s Relief Fund, a non-political, non-profit organization working to address the medical and humanitarian needs of Palestinian children.

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

I will be bringing Monarch Butterfly Programming to Camberwell Green for this years fantastic Chutney Preserves. Be there and have your mind melded to join the ranks of the other fabulous Monarch Slaves such as Beyonce, Rhianna and Lady Gaga.

From 1279 until 1855 a fayre was held on Camberwell Green, one of the many attractions was a menagerie of wild animals captured from distant lands. In homage to the beasts of the ancient Camberwell Fayre, artists will create a fair and foul enclosure of luxurious and curious beasts, transforming the Green into a safari park for human animals and their keepers, with beastly goings on, sideshows and a program of performance in ‘the big top’

Timetable of Performance in and around the 'Big Top' (note running order may change)1.30 - 4.30pmVanessa Mitter with James Gardiner - Repetition through voice in word and noise - an animal noise de-constructing communicationFrog Morris - Reading poems he has written about animalsMikey Georgeson - Mr solo will be manifesting his primordial marmalade whilst counting down to indivisible unity and wonder via pink ukuleles and dislocated antics.Jessica Marlowe - Animal choirCharlie Fox and the Urban Bear Research CentreMarc Vaulbert de Chantilly will arrive on an epic journey from Marble Arch with his gallows and hang fugitive, criminal animals

5.00pm - 7.00pmPepomo with 'Animusical' the Pepomo group will dress in home-made animal costumes, sing songs, and dance, with live backing music, including adding a new 'exotic' character - especially for Chutney Preserves

6.00pm - assemble outside Captain Magnos Camper Van on the Greenthe intrepid explorer Capt. Magno will present to the general public the last surviving specimen of a nearly mythical beast, recently brought back from his most recent Amazonian expedition. This mysterious animal that has no ears or eyes has yet remained in a state of comatose slumber. It is rumoured that it's only known defence mechanism on being awoken is an extreme form of spontaneous combustion.

On-going artists performance/ interventions in and around the Marquee and Green in cages, pens and on safari:

Rebecca Feiner and Helene Corr with Worm Charming Olympics, Lord Darwin and appreciation of creatures smallDaniel Lehan - champion snail racing arenaPaul Sakoilsky and Reg, King of dogsJoanna McCormick and Dido Hallett - Chimeric animal drawings made to orderMiyuki Kasahara - The fox witch fox will appear with her tube. The tube fox will answer visitor's questions by vomiting coloured stones.Devyani Parmar - Piggy BankMarq Kearey - missing pets - hand made lost dog notices that appear on street corner walls and tacked onto poor unsuspecting council planted saplings on common grounds and parksJulian Wakeling - displays of shadow, animal puppetryLibby Shearon - Post spill animals at the watering hole barSinead Wheeler - "Circe's speed dating" - the witch / goddess Circe lures travellers to her table with Twiglets, Campari and Pepperami treats, and offers readings from the ancient cards ('Zoo Snap', 'Farmyard Donkey' etc) to determine their animal - Highland Cattle, seal, guinea fowl, goat.. If suitors spurn Circe's love, they are condemned to wear the mark of their beast eg. pigs' ears / snout, bull horns, cock's tail.Ricarda Vidal and the Animals of Boss Farm - what does a Greek frog say? -Animal language translation project.Daisy Delaney - Drive by safariBen Woodeson - Gold Fish Soup. Ben serves cold gold fish soup in honor of Marco Evaristti's gold fish in a blender. The soup will be distributed free of charge!Rachael House - the Pet-Tastic museum and attractions. Rachael will be introducing the Cynocephalus Nation, and asking ‘Do dog headed people walk among us?’Charlie Fox and the Urban Bear Research Centre - Turning the tide of ethology, bear and comrades will be sharing the rules and manners of contemporary bear etiquette. Humans will be invited to enter Urban Bear’s special acclimatized tent to share tips on the latest fashion, movements and manners from ursatopia. Debretts meets Selfridges, Urban Bear spares no man or woman in search for answers to animal/human behaviours, in a make-it-up research programmeFrog Morris - reading his animal poems to passers bySarah Doyle - Butterlies - The Monarch Butterfly and IlluminatiLinda Barck - Nesting on the green for one day only. The Fantastical, Fanatical, Featherosity Altar. For all the beaked and feathered creatures, that lives in myth, religion and all those magical and in between spaces, we will pray, offer, worship and confess to you on this one fabulous day. May the egg be brought safe to the other shore and the birdman live eternally.Magnus Irvin - Travels with Captain Magno. Part 1Raul Pina Perez -the painter and the philosopher'': PORKY PAYSLady Lucy and Drawing Exchange - Make drawings around Camberwell Green taking 'Animal Farm' as a departure point. No drawing experience necessary - all welcomeCOTH - Cult of the Harvester (Sarah Sparkes and Simon Neville) with 'JISM- Conscientious Carnivores Contemplate Happy Meats'Marc Vaulbert De Chantilly - In the Middle Ages animals were tried in local courts for crimes ranging from theft and vandalism, to homicide and sexual perversion. Marseilles Lion, Eton rat, and Dodd the Dog. All must hangJo David - Invocation of the Pegasus. Through a series of interventions, an attempt will be made to resurrect, or recreate, the lost ancient symbolic creature.Geraldine Swayne - Shepherdess of the human herdCalum F Kerr - Dr Gerald Van Elk presents: Are You Wild Enough? Dr Gerald Van Elk is Camberwell’s leading Ethologist. He is conducting a study on the wild behaviour of animals, human and non-human alike on the Green. He will present a short lecture and interview throughout the day the animal menagerie asking questions pertaining to his research and performing tests relating to Aggression; Communication; Group Behaviour; Instinct; Learning and Reproduction. Please note: Dr Van Elk is NOT a member of the APBC (Association of Pet Behavioural Councillors).Jacqueline Utley - brings small enclosures to the green; where tales from past fairs merge with the fictional creating parallel miniature worlds which visitors can help build.Simon Ould, Liam Scully, Vanessa ScullyA Goat

Sarah Doyle’s lively series of drawings are created on the pages of a colouring book – of which the printed, bubbly outlines of monkeys, houses, gardens, jolly looking people and so forth are still visible. Printed images like these are approximations of reality, and at early age form the foundations of our ability to read, recognise and participate with images, icons and symbols.

Doyle’s felt tip pen drawings respond to the call of the book, to colour in, but the response uses a completely different set of imagery, that of iconic pop stars. In spite of what we know about the subject matter - Michael Jackson, Prince, Madonna - Doyle’s multifarious representations manage to carve out a space that avoids a kind of pop art nausea caused by an over-familiarity with the subject, and the interpretation of the subject in art.

In short her deployment of two sets of imagery, the book’s, and the pop stars’ complicates our reading of the work and creating a deeply peculiar and idiosyncratic set of drawings.

Trade will present a selection of artworks from Doyle’s series of 100 Michael Jacksons, 100 Madonnas, 100 Princes, in the main gallery space.

Monday, June 07, 2010

I will be at Rachael House's Peckham Peacocks event in the guise of a mod mechanic. I'll be customizing mobility scooters and various other vehicles on the day, so if you would like your scooter or other wheeled vehicle to be embellished in a mod scooter style do come along and become a member of the Peckham Peacocks Mobility Scooter Club. There will also be performances by The Red Wheelies mobility scooter formation team as well as mod makeovers and lots more.

More info:

We are pleased to tell you about the new project by Rachael House, Peckham Peacocks, a mobility scooter meet in Peckham Square.

The mixtape is more than just a compilation. It is a way of conveying an idea, mood or theme through a selection of particular songs and communicating a message to a recipient.

The mixtape is a personal object, illustrated with idiosyncratic cover art and handwritten lines. It often ended up saying more about the maker than the songs or musicians chosen.

Mixtapes: Popular Music in Contemporary Art is a selection of visual artworks that use the materials and imagery that surround and accompany music. It includes artists who acknowledge the influence of album covers, posters, videos, instrumentation and assorted musical paraphenalia in their own work, often referencing the distinct genres, styles and seminal moments of popular music history.

Mixtapes also addresses the notion of the artist as a fan, as someone who incorporates their own musical tastes and preferences in making visual art. In this way, the exhibition explores both the intimate and expressive aspects of art and music.

A special limited edition P.S. I LOVE YOU zine will accompany the exhibition and be distributed at the P.S. I LOVE YOU events. The zine will feature original artwork, Beatle fan fiction and memories from The Beatles concerts at The Guamant in Bradford, from:

Bruce Barnes • Samantha Beswick • Maria Cobo • Sam Hart • Graham Hoyle • Robert Hope • Kath Gill • Lucy Munro • Catherine McEwan • Jean McEwan • Nicola Smith • James WrightThe exhibition will be up for the whole PS I LOVE YOU period, and there will be a launch party on Tuesday 27th from 7pm until 9pm. Why not come down and meet some of the artists involved and pick up your copy of the zine?